Call off the pot police

Most California Democrats obviously are happy with President Obama. But some discontent showed up during the state party's recent Executive Board meeting in Costa Mesa.

The party confab passed several resolutions, such as one praising its “magnificent wins in 2012 including picking up six congressional districts in swing districts [in our state] and capturing a two-thirds majority in the state Legislature.”

Then, there were two resolutions on marijuana laws. The first resolved “that the California Democratic Party asks President Obama to end the Department of Justice interference and raids by federal agencies in states with medical marijuana laws,” of which California is one of 18.

The second resolved “that the California Democratic Party requests: President Obama to allow the new marijuana legislation laws in Colorado and Washington to go into effect with no federal interference.”

The state Democrats' resolution came weeks after the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which includes members from both parties, unanimously passed a similar resolution.

These gestures are necessary because Mr. Obama pledged, during his 2008 campaign, “I'm not going to be using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws on” medical marijuana. Yet, he has done the opposite.

According to a June report from the California chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, “[T]he U.S. government's war on medical marijuana is raging unabated. … Over 335 defendants have been charged with federal crimes related to medical marijuana in states with medical marijuana laws … 158 defendants have received prison sentences totaling over 480 years for medical marijuana offenses.”

The new marijuana legalization laws in Washington and Colorado challenge the federal actions even more directly.

In February, Attorney General Eric Holder said, “We're still in the process of reviewing both of the initiatives that were passed. I would say, and I mean this, that you'll hear soon.” So far, nothing.

Perhaps no news is good news. But the California Democratic Party's resolutions are a welcome nudge to the president to leave the states alone on marijuana policy. In America's federalist system, the states are the “crucibles of democracy.” They're supposed to enact varying laws that reflect the different situations among the 50 states.

The president should announce that the federal government will respect state laws covering all aspects of marijuana.